Defending Jacob: The Aftermath Book 1

Beginning of the End

Present time

Andy wakes up shaking, sweating from that noise of the gunshot. Sitting up sharply taking in deep breaths to calm himself and heart. The gunshot he hears every night in his nightmare from the events that happened that changed his life. His entire future altar in just a span of seconds. He reminds himself it was a year ago everything is ok now, well not everything. He still is grieving, but he is doing his best to move on with her. He looks over wondering if she woke up from his nightmare, looking beside him in bed, she is still fast asleep in bed. It took a lot for them but things are better now. He gets out of bed heading to the bathroom to grab a glass of water. As he goes back to bed, he hears some noise in the other bedroom. Going to check on his kid, still fast asleep in bed he smiles knowing everything in the past couple years is finally over. Andy heads back to his room, climbs into bed holding her in his arms giving her a kiss on the forehead before drifting back to sleep, praying the nightmare doesn't invade his dreams once more. 

One year earlier

That day, in Cold Springs Park, Andy pulls up getting out of his car. He hears their screams, yelling for help. He rushes down the gravel path, remembering that day in the park when Ben Rifkin's body was found. His heart pounding what he was about to find this time around. He never thought he see the nightmare before him that afternoon. 

Charlotte woke that morning in the Hotel bed. She was exhausted rushing to the bathroom again. She had told Andy to stay the night at home with Jacob. She wasn't feeling well at all. Which is somewhat true, she convinced Andy after loads of back and forth over the phone to stay with his son. 

"Andy, I'll be fine, you have been here almost every night, Jacob needs his father as well. Laurie is still in the city right. It's not fair to Jacob. Promise me you won't show up here tonight?" She asked.

There was long silence on the other end of the phone. She was waiting, hearing Andy conflicted about what he would do. 

He sighed "Ok, but when can we see each other again. We need to go to the police with all the evidence we got on Cliff. I miss you Charlotte." Andy said.

Charlotte's heart was being tugged in to different directions. She'd made her deal with Laurie, more than anything she wanted Andy happy. She needed to put his family first. "Andy give it a few days ok. Than we can see each other somehow we will work it out."

"Charlotte, are you really ok, something sounds off with you? Please tell me." Andy pleaded.

She was trying hard to suppress her emotions and fight the tears. "I'm fine Andy just sick, I'm going to rest a little." She said.

They hung up saying how they loved each other. When Charlotte hung up the phone, she started crying. She made her deal with Laurie that after today, at the park she would leave. She just wasn't sure just how she would be leaving the meeting with Cliff in the park. Whether it would be alive, in a ambulance, or a body bag. She knew one thing though, no matter how it turned out in the end. Cliff was going to pay for everything he had done to her family. The pain he had caused her brother and Andy, Laurie and Jacob. She picked up her phone and texted Cliff.

Cliff Meet Me at 12pm, exactly where you took my nephew's life . Don't bring Derek, I know he is involved. If you pull anything, I'll make sure Derek doesn't get away with either. 

She waited for his response. She knew Laurie wanted to help her and keep her safe, but Charlotte needed to keep everyone out of it. She'd lied to Laurie saying 1pm at the park. This was her past that had destroyed their lives, she was the one who would fix it all. She packed up all her clothes, belongings in the room. She wrote a letter to Andy, explaining everything. She had uploaded all the evidence to a flash drive putting it in the envelope for Andy. She hoped no matter what happened today, Andy would go to the police, the nightmare would end.